Tray, in particular for catering purposes onboard aircrafts

ABSTRACT

A tray, in particular for catering purposes onboard aircrafts, including a tray body defining a receiving surface for receiving thereon items to be carried by use of the tray. The tray body includes an interlocking device for releasably engaging an interlocking device of the tray body of a similar tray, when at least two trays are positioned such that the receiving surfaces of the tray bodies are overlapping each other partially. The interlocking device of the trays interacting such that when one of the trays is drawn in a drawing direction, the other tray is moved along in the drawing direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of PCT/EP2009/001506, filed Mar. 4, 2009, which claims the priority of German application no. 20 2008 011 452.7, filed Aug. 28, 2008, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a tray, for catering purposes onboard aircrafts. In particular, the invention relates to a tray including a tray body defining a receiving surface for receiving thereon items to be carried by the tray for catering purposes onboard aircrafts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trays of this kind are well known, for example from EP 0 987 972 B1, and include a tray body defining a receiving surface for receiving thereon items to be carried by use of the tray. Usually, catering articles, for example dishes, cups, cutlery and foodstuff items are received on the receiving surface. If a hot meal is to be served to a passenger, the tray is drawn out of a storing trolley. Then a separate container containing the hot meal is placed on the tray which then is served to a passenger. It is a disadvantage of the known trays that they require a substantial amount of space when stored in a trolley. This disadvantage is even more important since the storing space in a trolley onboard aircrafts is very limited.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tray which may be stored in a more space-saving manner in a trolley.

This object is achieved by the invention which includes a tray for catering purposes onboard aircrafts, the tray including a tray body defining a receiving surface for receiving thereon items to be carried by the tray. The tray body includes an interlocking device configured for releasably engaging an interlocking device of the tray body of a similar tray, when at least two trays are positioned such that the receiving surfaces of the tray bodies are overlapping each other partially, and the interlocking devices of the at least two trays interact such that when one of the at least two trays is drawn in a drawing direction, the other one of the at least two trays is moved along in the drawing direction.

It is a basic idea of the invention to construct the tray such that similar trays may be stored in a trolley with their receiving surfaces overlapping each other partially. In order to simplify the handling of the trays, the tray according to the invention includes an interlocking device for releasably engaging an interlocking device of the tray body of a similar tray, wherein at least two trays are positioned such that the receiving surfaces of the tray bodies are overlapping each other. The interlocking devices of the trays are interacting such that when one of the trays is drawn in a drawing direction, the other tray is moved along in the drawing direction. In this way, drawing the trays for example out of a trolley is simplified. After drawing a tray out of the trolley, a container containing a hot meal may be placed on the receiving surface, namely in an area, in which the trays were overlapping in their storing position. Consequently, the trays according to the invention may be stored in a highly space-saving manner without restricting the size of the receiving surface.

The tray according to the invention is particularly useful for catering purposes onboard aircrafts.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the interlocking device includes a substantially form-locking device.

In order to keep the tray body as simple as possible in order to have it manufactured at low costs, it is preferred that the interlocking device includes at least one protrusion located on the upper surface of the tray body and at least one recess located on the lower surface of the tray body, the protrusion engaging the recess of a similar tray, when the tray bodies of two similar trays are overlapping each other. Basically, according to the invention, one protrusion and one recess are sufficient. However, according to the respective requirements a plurality of protrusions and corresponding recesses may be provided. Furthermore, preferably the protrusion is integral with the tray body.

In order to keep the tray body particularly simple and lightweight, it is preferred that the tray body has a shaped-cross section, the shaped-cross section forming the protrusion and the recess.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the protrusion and the recess at least sectionally are shaped substantially complementary to the each other. Basically, the protrusion and the recess may be shaped in an arbitrary way as long as the interlocking function is maintained. However, according to a further preferred embodiment the protrusion and the recess have a substantially triangular cross section.

In order to render the tray body particularly lightweight, it is preferred that the protrusion and the recess are formed by hollow sections of the shaped cross-section.

According to the respective requirements the tray body may be manufactured from arbitrary materials. In order to have the tray manufactured at particularly low costs, it is preferred that the tray body is manufactured from plastics.

The invention will not be explained in greater detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein all features described, shown in the drawings and claimed in the claims constitute the subject matter of the invention, either taken alone or in arbitrary combination with each other, regardless of their particular description and particular illustration in the drawings as well as regardless of their combination in the claims and the dependencies of the claims.

Relative terms, such as left, right, up, and down are not intended to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an embodiment of a tray according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a section along a line I-I in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a section along a line II-II in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a tray 2 according to the invention, in particular for catering purposes onboard aircrafts including a tray body 4 for defining a receiving surface 6 for receiving thereon items to be carried by use of the tray, e.g. dishes, cups, food container, cutlery or foodstuff items. In the illustrated embodiment, the tray body 4 is substantially flat and is manufactured from plastics.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section along a line I-I in FIG. 1, wherein the tray 2 is shown together with a similar tray 2′. For parts of the tray 2′ corresponding to parts of the tray 2 corresponding reference numerals are used.

The trays 2, 2′ are shown in a position in which the receiving surfaces 6, 6′ of the tray bodies 4, 4′ are overlapping each other partially. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the receiving surface 6 of the tray 2 is divided into two sections 8, 10. In the position shown in FIG. 2, the section 8′ of the receiving surface 6′ of the tray 2′ is overlapping the section 10 of the receiving surface 6 of the tray 2 such that the section 10 of the receiving surface 6 of the tray 2 is covered.

Since both trays 2, 2′ have an identical structure, in the following only the tray 2 will be explained in greater detail.

According to the invention the tray body 4 includes an interlocking device for releasably engaging an interlocking device of the tray body 4′ of a similar tray 2′, when at least two trays 2, 2′ are positioned such that the receiving surfaces 6, 6′ are overlapping each other partially, as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, according to the invention the interlocking devices of the trays 2, 2′ are interacting such that when one of the trays, e. g. the tray 2′, is drawn in a drawing direction symbolized by an arrow 12 in FIG. 2, the other tray 2 is moved along in the drawing direction 12.

In the illustrated embodiment the interlocking device includes substantially a form locking device. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment the interlocking device includes a protrusion 14 located on the other surface of the tray body 4 and a recess 16 located on the lower surface of the tray body 4, the protrusion 14 engaging the recess 16′ of the tray 2′, when the tray bodies 4, 4′ of the two trays 2, 2′ are overlapping each other, is shown in FIG. 2.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiment the tray body 4 has a shaped cross-section, the shaped cross-section forming the protrusion 14 and the recess 16, wherein the protrusion 14 and the recess 16 at least sectionally are shaped substantially complementary to each other. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion 14 and the recess 16 have a substantially triangular cross section and are formed by hollow sections of the shaped cross-section.

In use, the trays 2, 2′ are stored in a trolley onboard aircrafts in the position shown in FIG. 2, in which the receiving surfaces 6, 6′ of the trays 2, 2′ are overlapping each other. In this storing position, catering articles and/or foodstuff items may be received on the sections 8, 8′ of the receiving surfaces 6, 6′. In order to serve the tray 2, 2′ to a passenger, the tray 2′ is drawn in the drawing direction 12. Since the trays 2, 2′ are releasably interlocked by the interlocking device, the tray 2 is moved along with the tray 2′ in the drawing direction 12.

In order to separate the tray 2′ from the tray 2, the recess 16′ may be lifted over the protrusion 14 such that the trays 2, 2′ are disengaged from each other. In this position, the section 10 of the receiving surface 6 of the tray 2 is no longer covered by the tray 2′. Therefore, e. g. a container containing a hot meal may be placed on the section 10, and the tray 2 may then be served to the passenger.

According to the invention, the trays 2, 2′ may be stored in a highly space-saving manner in a trolley without restricting the size of the receiving surface 6.

From FIG. 3 showing a section along the line II-II in FIG. 1, it can be seen that spaced from their rims the trays 2, 2′ have the same cross-section along their width.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention. 

1. Tray for catering purposes onboard aircrafts, comprising: a) a tray body defining a receiving surface for receiving thereon items to be carried by the tray; and b) the tray body including an interlocking device configured for releasably engaging an interlocking device of the tray body of a similar tray, when at least two trays are positioned such that the receiving surfaces of the tray bodies are overlapping each other partially, and the interlocking devices of the at least two trays interacting such that when one of the at least two trays is drawn in a drawing direction, the other one of the at least two trays is moved along in the drawing direction.
 2. Tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a) the interlocking device includes a substantially form-locking element.
 3. Tray as claimed in claim 2, wherein: a) the interlocking device includes at least one protrusion located on an upper surface of the tray body and at least one recess located on a lower surface of the tray body the protrusion engaging the recess of a similar tray, when the tray bodies of two similar trays are overlapping each other.
 4. Tray as claimed in claim 3, wherein: a) the tray body has a shaped cross-section, the shaped cross-section forming the protrusion and the recess.
 5. Tray as claimed in claim 3, wherein: a) the protrusion and the recess at least sectionally are shaped substantially complementary to each other.
 6. Tray as claimed in claim 3, wherein: a) the protrusion and the recess have a substantially triangular cross-section.
 7. Tray as claimed in claim 4, wherein: a) the protrusion and the recess are formed by hollow sections of the shaped cross-section.
 8. Tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a) the tray body is manufactured from plastics. 